Native Bee Workshop - Lori Weidenhammer

May 28-29, 2024

Similkameen Secondary and Elementary School, Keremeos, BC

Workshop Description:

Lori Weidenhammer, aka Madame Beespeaker, introduces three classes of Grade 6/7 students to the amazing world of BC’s native bees. This includes in-class learning and drawing the anatomical parts of bees, and then heading outside to see some bees in action. Lori supplies Bee Bingo Cards that the students can take home and introduce their families to bees to look for in their own backyards and surrounding parks. She will also talk about how to become a community scientist and take part in natural surveys called bioblitzes, using a program called iNaturalist.

Artist Bio:

Lori Weidenhammer, aka Madame Beespeaker, is a Vancouver performance-based interdisciplinary artist and educator. She is a settler originally from Cactus Lake Saskatchewan. It is in this place, bordered by wheat fields and wild prairie, that she first became enchanted with bees. She is the author of a book called Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide for Saving the Bees. For the past several years she has been appearing as the persona Madame Beespeaker, practicing the tradition of “telling the bees”. As a food security volunteer, artist and activist Lori works with students of all ages on eating locally and gardening for pollinators. She uses many art forms in her teaching and art practice including garden designing, drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, cyanotypes, sculpture, photography, textiles, singing, culinary arts and installation. Using all the skills in her artist’s tool kit, Lori Weidenhammer works to be positive force giving people of all ages new ways to connect to the beauty and wonder of BC’s native bees.